FILE - In this Dec. 28, 2016 photo, activist Milagro Sala flashes the victory sign before being given a guilty verdict at a courtroom in San Salvador de Jujuy, in the northern Argentine province of Jujuy. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights recommended Friday, July 28, 2017, that the Argentine government release Sala from prison and let her serve out the rest of her term under house arrest or by electronic monitoring. (AP Photo/Gianni Bulacio, File)

Gumercinda Gimenez attends a press conference at the Centre for Legal Studies with a picture of jailed activist Milagro Sala hanging from her neck in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, July 28, 2017. At the conference, it was announced that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights said that Sala, head of Argentina's Tupac Amaru social movement, should be released. Sala was arrested last year, accused of "inciting criminal acts" in connection with a protest she led against authorities, and the Jujuy provincial government in northern Argentina later broadened their accusations, saying her movement "embezzled public funds." (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Horacio Verbitsky leads a conference at the Center for Legal Studies in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, July 28, 2017, where it was announced that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights said that Milagro Sala, head of Argentina's Tupac Amaru social movement, should be released. Sala was arrested last year, accused of "inciting criminal acts" in connection with a protest she led against authorities, and the Jujuy provincial government in northern Argentina later broadened their accusations, saying her movement "embezzled public funds." (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Gumercinda Gimenez attends a press conference at the Center for Legal Studies with a picture of Milagro Sala hanging from her neck in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, July 28, 2017, during the announcement by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights that Sala, head of Argentina's Tupac Amaru social movement, should be released. Sala was arrested last year, accused of "inciting criminal acts" in connection with a protest she led against authorities, and the Jujuy provincial government in northern Argentina later broadened their accusations, saying her movement "embezzled public funds." (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Regional rights body tells Argentina to free jailed activist

By LUIS ANDRES HENAO

Jul. 29, 2017

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights said Friday that Argentina's government should release jailed social activist Milagro Sala.

The commission said in a statement that there are many risk factors surrounding her detention, including alleged harassment, aggressions and a death threat.

It granted a precautionary measure in favor of Sala stating that Argentina is obligated to fulfill a U.N. panel's resolution last year saying she was arbitrarily detained and asked the government for her immediate release.

Sala heads Argentina's Tupac Amaru social movement and won a seat in 2015 in the regional parliament of the Mercosur group of South American nations.

She was arrested on Jan. 16, 2016, and accused of "inciting criminal acts" linked to a protest she led against authorities. The Jujuy provincial government in northern Argentina then broadened the charges, saying her movement "embezzled public funds" meant for the construction of housing for low-income people.

Sala has denied any wrongdoing.

The government's Secretariat of Human Rights said in a statement that it would relay the recommendations to Jujuy's judicial and administrative authorities and that it respected the rights commission.

Members of the commission, which is an autonomous body of the Organization of American States, visited Jujuy and met with representatives of all parties. The commission said Sala is under constant harassment, including the initiation of legal cases without the guarantee of the right to defense, constant transfers and extreme surveillance.

The commission acted in response to a complaint filed by the Argentine human rights group Center for Legal and Social Studies and other human rights organizations.

"The commission makes it clear that Milagro Sala cannot remain in jail," said Horacio Verbitsky, the group's president. "The constant transfers are using a perverse methodology. It's as if instead of a social leader, this was (Mexican drug lord) 'El Chapo' Guzman."

Sala, a close ally of former President Cristina Fernandez, is accused of irregularly managing money that she received during Fernandez's administration for the construction of lower income housing in Jujuy province.

Her supporters say she only looks to benefit the poor. They call her arrest a political move by provincial Gov. Gerardo Morales and other political allies of current President Mauricio Macri.